PASADENA, Calif. -- Jeremiah Smith, a rose stem planted firmly in his mouth, glared confidently into the scarlet-coated section of the Rose Bowl stands Wednesday as he exited the field.
The Ohio State band was blaring the school fight song, and all around Smith, teammates, cheerleaders and fans were soaking up the sights and sounds of the Buckeyes' 41-21 battering of Oregon in the Rose Bowl Game presented by Prudential. It was their second straight blowout win in the College Football Playoff, moving them two wins away from a national championship.
"We've got a chip on our shoulder, and that chip ain't going away," said Smith, managing to keep the rose stem in his mouth.